The government has been actively considering a ‘deposit return’ scheme for plastic bottles since October and is currently reviewing advice from retailers, manufacturers, scientists and other parties.

However, the prime minister made no mention of any such scheme in a lengthy and wide-ranging speech on her ‘greenprint’ for the next 25 years today – raising concerns that the idea could be rejected.

The initiative would charge people extra when they bought a drink and refund it when they returned the plastic bottle. It has worked well in Germany, Norway and the Netherlands boasting return rates of 95 per cent or more – compared to a plastic bottle recycling rate of just 57 per cent in the UK.

Mounting calls for deposit scheme

Theresa May’s failure to mention the bottle deposit review in her speech comes in stark contrast to mounting calls from MPs, campaigners and some retailers to introduce one.

Advocates welcomed Tesco’s decision to back a scheme as a major breakthrough after a long period of refusing to endorse the idea.

“It’s great news that Britain’s biggest retailer has come out firmly in support of deposit return schemes,” said Greenpeace UK Senior Oceans Campaigner Louise Edge.

“It’s great news that Britain’s biggest retailer has come out firmly in support of deposit return schemes,”

Louise Edge

“Instead of announcing vague aspirations for 2043, the government should be implementing a deposit return scheme right now. Yet we haven’t seen any mention of this from May this week,” she added.

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas added: “”It’s very welcome that a big beast like Tesco is now backing a bottle deposit scheme, but it really does show the Government up for sitting on their hands on this issue.”

Growing retailer momentum

Tesco’s backing for a deposit scheme follows endorsement by the Iceland and Co-op supermarket chains – although most of the other major retailers remain opposed because it could be costly and problematic to implement.

However, the support and lobbying might of Tesco is so great that advocates hailed their backing as a potential game changer – putting considerable extra pressure on the government to decide in favour of a deposit scheme.

Mary Creagh MP, chair of the cross party Environmental Audit Committee said: “It is heartening to see major retailers getting behind our call for a deposit return scheme in the UK, but the Government to show leadership and act now to turn back the plastic tide.”

Tesco supports scheme

A Tesco spokesman said: “We do support developing a cost-effective Deposit Return Scheme and are currently working with a number of partners to explore how this can operate in practice and at scale.”

Asked about the possibility of a deposit return scheme after her speech yesterday, Mrs May stopped well short of endorsing the idea.

“We want to look at the evidence. The important thing is to see the evidence – what method is going to have the greatest impact,” she said.

The government is expected to give an update on its deposit scheme review in the coming weeks. This would only apply to England. Scotland has already decided to introduce such a scheme while Wales is considering one and the idea has been rejected in Northern Ireland.

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